The Root

“It’s true our lives can pass small and unnoticed by the masses, and we are no less dignified for having lived quietly. In fact, I’ve come to believe there’s something noble about doing little with your life save offering love to a person who is offering it back.” –Donald Miller, Scary Close

Recently, I have been talking a lot about being a “recovering people pleaser and perfectionist.” For most of my life, I felt I needed to do something incredible according to the world’s standards. The deeply rooted belief aching inside of my heart was that I needed to find a way to validate who I was, to earn the love and respect of those I cared about. Through years of feeling misunderstood, and quite frankly just exhausted from the striving, I have decided to be one thing: me. The me that God designed. A huge part of this included coming to the realization that what I’m passionate about, what sets my soul on fire, may not only be just misunderstood by some, but they actually may view it as simple and insignificant.

In Chariots of Fire, Eric Liddell says:

“I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure.”

Sometimes, the control freak part of my personality wants to know exactly what my “plan” in life is…each detail…all of the specifics. That is not something that I have. What I do know is that my heart is fueled by creating and sharing messages. Writing is where I feel God’s pleasure, where I feel a sense of belonging. This can manifest in many ways, though. Acting, writing, social media, speaking, mentoring, taking photos and capturing moments. These are just some of the branches of the true purpose, and though it scares me sometimes, the true purpose is quite simple. The root is loving others. It’s all about love.

Even as a writer, I am lost for words when it comes to attempting to describe my experience as a leader at the Delight & Be retreat a couple weeks ago. The theme was actually, “Rooted and Grounded in Love.” Having the honor to spend a few days just loving these girls, listening to their stories, praying with them, speaking to them, sharing my authentic story. Loving others–that’s the life I want most. And I believe it may actually be the only “specific” that God has for me.

“Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it.” -Romans 12:9

While this message is an incredible simple and basic one, I can promise you it is not insignificant. Whatever you’re doing, whatever your life looks like, however the branches of your art may manifest, let love be the root.

“Applause is a quick fix. And love is an acquired taste.” -Donald Miller, Scary Close